Cincinnati : Buzz

On Wednesday, April 18, the crowdfunding industry’s 13 top debt and equity crowdfunding platforms and industry experts met to create a Statement of Intent for a lasting organization that will champion, advocate for, and represent the global crowdfunding industry. Two days later, this group—the Crowdfund Intermediary Regulatory Association, or CFIRA—presented its Statement of Intent to the Securities & Exchange Commission (SEC).  CFIRA’s complete Statement of Intent can be found on www.Crowdsourcing.org.

The deadline for nominations for the Ernst & Young Entrepreneur of the Year award has been extended to March 23rd. For more info, click here.

The Angel Capital Association (ACA) and Angel Resource Institute (ARI) have named John Huston as the recipient of the 2012 Hans Severiens Award. For more info, click here.

According to this Inc.com article, Cincytech wants to help startups identify their 'minimum viable concept.' Read it here.

In June, 50 recent college graduates from some of the best schools in the U.S. will join startups in struggling cities as part of Venture for America, a new program designed to help young companies, promote entrepreneurship and generate job growth. Read about it here.

The new Blackbook app helps Cincinnati residents and new hires create a customized guide to their city based on their preferences. Check out the story here.

Cincinnati outranks Puerto Rico, Chicago and five other areas on Lonely Planet's 'Top 10 U.S. Travel Destinations for 2012' list. Click here to check out the full story.

Lebanon Citizens National Bank has partnered with E.F. Bavis & Associates, Inc., to create the world's first solar powered drive-thru in the banking and pharmaceutical industries, reports Soapbox.

E.F. Bavis & Associates says that the drive-thru is powered by a 26-inch by 40-inch solar panel that is designed specifically for Ohio sunlight conditions and will charge a 12-volt battery. The battery will then be used to power the drive-thru's non-pneumatic delivery system which uses "an intelligent sensor monitored, positive-drive conveyor tape delivery system engineered to use less than one-tenth the normal amount of electricity required by normal pneumatic tube delivery systems."

Original source: Soapbox
Read the full story here.

An 8-year-old cheetah at the Cincinnati Zoo is now the world's fastest animal thanks to a speedy 100-meter sprint time, an official linked to the zoo says.

Cathryn Hilker, who founded the Cat Ambassador Program at the Cincinnati Zoo, said in a zoo release that Sarah the cheetah broke the previous world record twice Wednesday with 100-meter runs of 6.16 seconds and 6.13 seconds, The Cincinnati Enquirer reported.

Original source: United Press International
Read the full story here.